Terry waits on England captaincy

01 February 2010 05:43

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England boss Fabio Capello is in no rush to decide on John Terry's future as captain, BBC Sport understands.Terry's role has been called into question following allegations of an affair with the former girlfriend of England team-mate Wayne Bridge. [LNB]The Football Association has confirmed Capello alone will decide Terry's fate. [LNB]A senior FA source told BBC Sport: "We are not in a hurry. We will meet the squad next month, before the game against Egypt." [LNB]"Then we'll have the chance to observe the players and dynamic between them." [LNB]Capello has been monitoring the fall-out from the Terry affair from his holiday home in Switzerland, where he is recovering from knee surgery. [LNB]The Italian returns to England on Thursday and will have detailed discussions about Terry with his trusted lieutenant, Franco Baldini. [LNB]Capello is then likely to leave Baldini, England's general manager, to sit down with Terry and get his side of the story. [LNB]A statement on the FA website on Monday said: "Fabio is fully up to speed with developments regarding John Terry. [LNB]"He spoke with our Chairman Lord Triesman and Chief Executive Ian Watmore today, who both backed him to make the best decision for England on footballing grounds. [LNB]"Fabio is dealing with the matter in his own way using his extensive experience as a football manager." [LNB]Journalists will have their first opportunity to grill Capello about Terry's captaincy at the Euro 2012 draw in Warsaw, Poland, on Sunday, which the England manager will attend as a representative of the FA.[LNB] HAVE YOUR SAY Should sportsmen be role models off the pitch? The England squad then get together on 28 February to prepare for the friendly against African Cup of Nations champions Egypt at Wembley on 3 March. [LNB]Manchester City defender Bridge - a former Chelsea team-mate of Terry's - might not be involved, because he has been out of action with a knee injury. [LNB]Meanwhile, sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe says he wants talks with the FA over the suitability of Terry as England captain. [LNB]"If these allegations are proven, it calls into question his role as England captain," Sutcliffe said. [LNB]Despite ongoing newspaper revelations about Terry's private life, the 29-year-old has been assured by Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti that he will remain club captain. [LNB]However, there are increasing concerns over Terry being skipper of the national team with England little more than four months away from starting their World Cup campaign against the United States on 13 June.[LNB] [LNB][LNB] And although the FA has so far declined to comment on the situation, Sutcliffe said he will be meeting with the governing body to request an explanation. [LNB]"On the field John Terry is a fantastic player and a good England captain, but to be the captain of England you have got to have wider responsibilities for the country," Sutcliffe insisted. [LNB]"I speak to the FA on a regular basis, so I will be asking what their viewpoint is and we will see what comes of it." [LNB]Terry is set go to the World Cup in South Africa as captain, while Bridge, who has not played since December because of injury, is also likely to be selected in Capello's squad as understudy to another former Chelsea team-mate, Ashley Cole. [LNB]Terry won a gagging order last week preventing the public learning about an alleged affair, but the injunction was lifted by the High Court on Friday. [LNB]National newspapers named the father-of-two, who is married to Toni Poole, in their Saturday editions as having a relationship with Vanessa Perroncel. [LNB]And there were further revelations about the alleged affair in Sunday's national newspapers.[LNB] [LNB][LNB]Terry captaincy in doubt - Lawrenson[LNB]Meanwhile, publicist Max Clifford revealed on Monday that Perroncel had consulted him and that the model would decide whether to take further action within the next few days. [LNB]"She basically said, 'What do I do?" Clifford said on GMTV television. "'Journalists are knocking down my door, I've got people running round taking photos everywhere I go, I never sought this, I never asked for this, and I've never spoken to anybody.'" [LNB]Manchester City players Carlos Tevez, Nigel de Jong and Stephen Ireland wore T-shirts with the words "Team Bridge" in support of their team-mate during their 2-0 win over Portsmouth on Sunday. [LNB]Former England captain Alan Shearer described Terry as a "fantastic leader" and said: "We do not know all the facts, so it would be wrong to suggest anything. What I do know is that John Terry is a fantastic leader and a very good footballer. [LNB]"I do not know him as a person - I have just played against him. Only John Terry and Fabio Capello will be able to tell in the coming weeks if it (the allegations) affects the captaincy." [LNB]And Players' Union boss Gordon Taylor believes the decision over Terry's future as England captain should rest solely with Capello. [LNB]Taylor has also offered to act a a mediator between Terry and Bridge should they wish to resolve their differences, although the Professional Footballers' Association boss also thinks Capello should be at the centre of such discussions. [LNB]"If Fabio Capello continues to believe he (Terry) is the right man for the job, then yes he can remain as England captain," Taylor told BBC Radio 5 live. [LNB]"He made his decision after some time to choose John Terry and it is up to him. That is really his remit and that is his responsibility and he's got to do what is best for the team." [LNB]Taylor added: "It is my job to run the union not to sit in moral judgement and also to be available because we have lots of serious issues for players and we try to help on a 24-hour basis. [LNB]"If I was asked I'd be more than willing to try and help clear the air in what is a very sensitive, emotional and difficult situation. [LNB]"As it is centring on the England situation again, I think it would be very important for Fabio Capello to take that that lead."